I think I'm missing something here. The last time I drove to Vancouver for a snowboarding trip I drove through no problem. All they asked if I had a criminal record, warrants, and purpose being there? They didn't do a whole background check. Is it different on the east coast side?

Border officers have a lot of flexibility in their line of questioning depending on the circumstances. Which direction you're going, which country your car is plated in, which country your passports are, whether you're alone or with your significant other or a group of people all change what they're going to ask you.

Some times I'll get "Any alcohol or tobacco? Any firearms, pepper spray, or mace? Have a nice day." Other days it's "What was the nature of your trip? Have a nice day." Other times they'll want to know what I had for breakfast last Tuesday and every penny I spent. Overall, male guards give you an easier time or are more joking/friendly. Female guards seem to have a chip on their shoulder, though not always.

I've gone from being an 18 year old kid visiting his Canadian girlfriend, to being on a student visa, to being a permanent resident, married to a Canadian, and now I have my citizenship application in. I've gone both ways with any combination of US and Canadian citizens in the car, and with Ohio and Ontario plates. If you're young and alone, you're going to get a lot harder time than if you're a married couple. If you're just dating someone or with a group of friends, the questions will be more prying too with the "how do you know each other?" and "how did you meet?"

I've never had a criminal record, so I've never had that complication at least. From what I know though, prepare to be profiled. If you contact the border ahead of time about that factor and have your Ts crossed and Is dotted on everything else, they won't throw the book at you. Even if it's legal to do so, not bringing any beer, tobacco, or firearms with you, and leaving the radar detector at home if you're going into Ontario, is going to give you an easier time, as the only point of contention will be the DUI. If you don't give them reason to give you a hard time, they won't give you a hard time. If you're unprepared or ignorant and walk in as a deer in headlights, they're going to ask you everything they can, and probably send you inside to straighten things out.

It's likely just a precaution. I mean you Americans will let us in with DUI's but let's face it, your beer is like water and not nearly as strong as ours. We're seasoned hosers who know our limit. We could TRY to get drunk and likely still be under the legal limit in the U.S.

On the other hand you guys come up here and get all antsy in your pantsy with that REAL beer and it hits you like a freight train. So anyone who has a DUI is a menace to society because if he thinks he's good to drive after 2 or 3 Canadian beers he's flat out wrong, that's like 10 American beers to his system.

LOL... whoops! Well, it was the Rainbow Bridge over to the Canadian side of Niagra. Is that not the Toronto region? My Canadian geography is not very good beyond finding the nearest Casino or "massage" parlor.

Edit: Just looked at a map... I guess it is considered the Ontario region. Carry on....

Did you see any of these?

If not, you were not in Canada.

"The Sebring is an extraordinary car. Ugly to behold and hateful to drive, it is not cheap, elegant, comfortable, practical, prestigious, clever, economical, luxurious, well designed, well thought out or, if the rental car I drove in America this year is anything to go by, especially well made either." - Jeremy Clarkson

When you travel to other countries, you have to abide by their laws. They have every legal ground to ask you.

"The Sebring is an extraordinary car. Ugly to behold and hateful to drive, it is not cheap, elegant, comfortable, practical, prestigious, clever, economical, luxurious, well designed, well thought out or, if the rental car I drove in America this year is anything to go by, especially well made either." - Jeremy Clarkson

The key word here seems to be "conviction". Here in Mass you can often admit guilt without receiving a guilty finding (hence no "conviction") as part of the plea bargaining process. You receive probation and, if you complete it, a dismissal of the charge. The question would be whether Canadian law interprets the admission of guilt in such a scenario as the equivalent of a "conviction". I believe US immigration law considers it the same as a "conviction" for deportation purposes, for example, even though you're not formally found to be "guilty".

It's likely just a precaution. I mean you Americans will let us in with DUI's but let's face it, your beer is like water and not nearly as strong as ours. We're seasoned hosers who know our limit. We could TRY to get drunk and likely still be under the legal limit in the U.S.

On the other hand you guys come up here and get all antsy in your pantsy with that REAL beer and it hits you like a freight train. So anyone who has a DUI is a menace to society because if he thinks he's good to drive after 2 or 3 Canadian beers he's flat out wrong, that's like 10 American beers to his system.

It's likely just a precaution. I mean you Americans will let us in with DUI's but let's face it, your beer is like water and not nearly as strong as ours. We're seasoned hosers who know our limit. We could TRY to get drunk and likely still be under the legal limit in the U.S.

On the other hand you guys come up here and get all antsy in your pantsy with that REAL beer and it hits you like a freight train. So anyone who has a DUI is a menace to society because if he thinks he's good to drive after 2 or 3 Canadian beers he's flat out wrong, that's like 10 American beers to his system.

Your country is the complete opposite with hard stuff.

Drinks are cheap... but you use 90% ice and then 9% sugary mixers. And it was in Montreal I saw my first drink meters... little caps that prevent the bartender from giving too much sweet stuff to a customer. Seriously not even NYC or at least the clubs I frequent use that.

Sent from my tablet while sipping weak drinks over fancy brunch with a view

I didn't know Canada was so picky with Americans crossing the borders .

F**king stupid fits better than picky.

They are screwing themselves out of massive amounts of commerce, it comes up often with musicians and athletes but they still hold onto their ignorant policies. All they are protecting is Canada. Who cares?

It's likely just a precaution. I mean you Americans will let us in with DUI's but let's face it, your beer is like water and not nearly as strong as ours. We're seasoned hosers who know our limit. We could TRY to get drunk and likely still be under the legal limit in the U.S.

On the other hand you guys come up here and get all antsy in your pantsy with that REAL beer and it hits you like a freight train. So anyone who has a DUI is a menace to society because if he thinks he's good to drive after 2 or 3 Canadian beers he's flat out wrong, that's like 10 American beers to his system.

I'd like to see you drink 10 Dogfish Head 120 minute IPAs and then stand up to go get 6 more.

Drinks are cheap... but you use 90% ice and then 9% sugary mixers. And it was in Montreal I saw my first drink meters... little caps that prevent the bartender from giving too much sweet stuff to a customer. Seriously not even NYC or at least the clubs I frequent use that.

FV-QR

1) Canada wont allow "felons" with DUI's into their country, but they'll turn a mostly blind eye to pounds and pounds of weed leaving their country for the US.

2) Adam144- You guys just don't get any good American small brew beer up there. We're sending you the cheap Budweiser crap to make sure you guys have a false sense of safety. Then BAM out of nowhere it's a bunch of hippies from Oregon, who've been drinking small batch double IPA's most of their adult life, charging in there with a BAL of 0.35 and the dexterity of an Olympic knitting champ. You'll never see it coming.

Originally Posted by Hogan

A lack of knowledge and facts has never once slowed down The Car Lounge.

2) Adam144- You guys just don't get any good American small brew beer up there. We're sending you the cheap Budweiser crap to make sure you guys have a false sense of safety. Then BAM out of nowhere it's a bunch of hippies from Oregon, who've been drinking small batch double IPA's most of their adult life, charging in there with a BAL of 0.35 and the dexterity of an Olympic knitting champ. You'll never see it coming.

Pffftt, we'll just warm their heads with toques and their hearts with job offers and free health care.

There is NO WAY you will ever get into canada. My friend has a DUI and the scanned his passport (they scan ALL of them) and they told him to GTFO. His DUI is many many years old too. He drove 6 hours to get to the border, had a legitimate reason to be in canada, was not driving. No way hose.

Some Canadian border guards are really sticklers for past criminal history. I've heard stories where people with a dui in the 80s can get into Canada for years and then one day get denied because the particular guard thinks they are a risk. I think the upper brass has advised officers on what is appropriate to deny entry for but who knows.

Did you get ARD? Or some other first offender's program? If so you might not be required to tell them.

Also, I'm not really sure what legal grounds they even have to ask.

Lol, and what "legal grounds" do you have to be allowed into our country? The border guards can ask whatever the hell they want, and rightly so. If it's a problem there is always the option to stay in the US. Your amendments and constitutions or whatever don't mean squat once you are over that line.